Airfare Costs

[dmbcanada]

Am wanting to take advantage of the new Disney special offer, but am faced with greatly inflated airfare costs! We are looking at the end of April, but from Buffalo or Detroit the costs are almost $1000 for 2 adults and 1 toddler. This is almost as much as flying out of Toronto! Does anyone know why the flights are so high right now? We paid $600 last January to fly out of Detroit for our last trip and were hoping to pay the same.

 

[gemini2727]

We just booked for August and are paying $500 more for the 5 of us than last August...Jetblue was the cheapest. We usually fly Delta, but their prices were out of control! Not sure why the costs are up, but it is disappointing to have to pay so much more.

 

[bababear_50]

I have recently decided to downsize our DVC (Disney Vacation Club) contracts as flying is costing us way toooo much. We will still do our annual March break trip but stay in Canada at Christmas.
Best wishes to you
Hugs Mel

 

[bababear_50]

Have you tried sunwing?

Not sure if with taxes if they are any cheaper

Link here

http://shopping.sunwing.ca/cgi-bin/results.cgi

 

[ccgirl]

Am wanting to take advantage of the new Disney special offer, but am faced with greatly inflated airfare costs! We are looking at the end of April, but from Buffalo or Detroit the costs are almost $1000 for 2 adults and 1 toddler. This is almost as much as flying out of Toronto! Does anyone know why the flights are so high right now? We paid $600 last January to fly out of Detroit for our last trip and were hoping to pay the same.

APril is popular for school breaks in the Northeast. That is probably why. Most families book the day the fares are released. I know I am looking for April 2014 the day it's released. For our school in MA, break is always the third week in April so the second and fourth week also tend to be expensive as well.

 

[Cold71]

Not sure if Southwest flys out of your airport but if you use Southwest's current credit card offer it should cut your airfare cost quite a bit. The current deal is 25,000 points if you spend $1000 if the first three months. Which should be easy booking a Disney package. I did this when the deal was $1000 for 50,000 points and I was able to get three round trips out of it with a few points to spare. After you get your points and pay the annual fee ($70 I think) go ahead and cancel the card. As I said before i'm not sure it will eliminate your costs but should put a rather large dent in it.


Edit: Just realized this this on the Canadian board but I looked at the deals website and I don't see anything about this being for US only.

 

[dmbcanada]

APril is popular for school breaks in the Northeast. That is probably why. Most families book the day the fares are released. I know I am looking for April 2014 the day it's released. For our school in MA, break is always the third week in April so the second and fourth week also tend to be expensive as well.

Well I checked and spring break ends on April 21st, so I don't understand why the inflated costs still. Maybe too many Canucks crossing the boarder to fly, so they finally took advantage!

 

[ccgirl]

Well I checked and spring break ends on April 21st, so I don't understand why the inflated costs still. Maybe too many Canucks crossing the boarder to fly, so they finally took advantage!

Because of people trying to save money on airfare so they go the second half of vacation week and pull their kids out of school a few days the next week.

 

[aristocat65]

I don't know if this helps you, but I got an email from travelzoo about a fare sale to Orlando from a lot of cities. It looks like you can fly from BUF on AirTran or United for just over $200 pp through the end of April. I think it ends soon.

 

[fitmom3]

Have you checked other airports out of the USA? AirTran flys out of Rochester. Allegiant Air has several airports that are close to the Canada border - Niagara Falls, Lansing Mi, Elmira NY, Grand Rapids Mi etc. I don't mind driving about 4-5 hours to save some cash. We are looking at going this March break but it will be last minute as I don't know if I have it off. I work for the school board with the full day learning program. If there is no interest we will not offer the program and I can go. so we will check flights as far as Pittsburgh. If they are too expensive we are going to drive. The drive is long but and adventure. It reminds me of running a marathon.

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

We are looking at the end of April, but from Buffalo or Detroit the costs are almost $1000 for 2 adults and 1 toddler. This is almost as much as flying out of Toronto! Does anyone know why the flights are so high right now? We paid $600 last January to fly out of Detroit for our last trip and were hoping to pay the same.

Are you comparing the same airlines ?

Just wondering, because not all airlines are created equal when it comes to what is included in the cost. If you are comparing, say, Jetblue from Buffalo with Spirit from Detroit then there are huge difference in inclusions. Jetblue includes free seat selection, a free checked bag per person, free snacks, TV's on each seat, the ability to get a credit if your flight price declines, free carry on bag, etc. Spirit charges you for everything. That would definitely be a consideration.

I don't think your flight prices are that out of line (maybe I am weird). Our family size is the same as yours (your toddler and my teenager take up the same amount of space.....one seat.....so we are both still pricing out 3 seats on the plane). We paid $1000 return from Syracuse in January 2012, $868 return from Syracuse in August 2012, and $1125 return from Buffalo in December 2012. January and August were Jetblue both directions, December was Airtran there and Jetblue home. So your $1000 quote is pretty much in line with what we have been paying from the NY airports.

We have been pricing out the last week of August 2013, and so far, we are looking at $1019 return from Syracuse on Jetblue. Comparing against, say, Westjet from Toronto, its a steal.

 

[ccgirl]

Are you comparing the same airlines ?

Just wondering, because not all airlines are created equal when it comes to what is included in the cost. If you are comparing, say, Jetblue from Buffalo with Spirit from Detroit then there are huge difference in inclusions. Jetblue includes free seat selection, a free checked bag per person, free snacks, TV's on each seat, the ability to get a credit if your flight price declines, free carry on bag, etc. Spirit charges you for everything. That would definitely be a consideration.

I don't think your flight prices are that out of line (maybe I am weird). Our family size is the same as yours (your toddler and my teenager take up the same amount of space.....one seat.....so we are both still pricing out 3 seats on the plane). We paid $1000 return from Syracuse in January 2012, $868 return from Syracuse in August 2012, and $1125 return from Buffalo in December 2012. January and August were Jetblue both directions, December was Airtran there and Jetblue home. So your $1000 quote is pretty much in line with what we have been paying from the NY airports.

We have been pricing out the last week of August 2013, and so far, we are looking at $1019 return from Syracuse on Jetblue. Comparing against, say, Westjet from Toronto, its a steal.

Good point.
Come to think of it, my DH and myself paid $280 each to fly to Florida from Massachusetts in October (3 months ago).

 

[fredgirls]

APril is popular for school breaks in the Northeast. That is probably why. Most families book the day the fares are released. I know I am looking for April 2014 the day it's released. For our school in MA, break is always the third week in April so the second and fourth week also tend to be expensive as well.

I think this is the key. It's much harder work to find reasonable air fares at the last minute than it used to be.

We booked our March flights on opening day, which was mid-July. Same flights now are more than 3 times the price. Not everyone can plan this far ahead, but it's the only way we can afford to go.

 

[HappieMommie]

Is it better to book airfare sooner or later? Our trip is in December (3-10) and I'd like to get the best deal possible (obviously).

 

[darwinsrule]

Is it better to book airfare sooner or later? Our trip is in December (3-10) and I'd like to get the best deal possible (obviously).

Sooner. Fare rise as you get closer to departure date. Unless there is a really good sale, which of course there is no way to predict. DW is a teacher so vacation schedules are pretty fixed. As a result we plan far enough out to book the day fares are released.

 

[dis_guy]

Is it better to book airfare sooner or later? Our trip is in December (3-10) and I'd like to get the best deal possible (obviously).

Soon as you can! I have only seen them go up as time goes on.

Right now United has airfares for your dates from Edmonton (should be even less from Calgary) for $517 pp all taxes and fees included. Trust me, you will not get a lower fare.

 

[dmbcanada]

Well I gave up on Detroit and found a cheaper fare via Buffalo on AirTran. Not the most luxiorious of airlines, but as long as it gets us there in one piece, luggage included!

 

[MedicGoofy]

I would also agree that 'typically' it is good to get them sooner. Having said that, if you can be on the computer at least once a day, if not more, to watch for the price drop in the flight you want, I wouldn't book right away. OR, if you know you will be flying within the year again, book it. And take the decrease in a credit.

I booked my flights on opening day, and now have $150 in a credit with Jetblue because of flight decreases. This is between 2 different flights I have.

I would say that generally, your flight price in not bad. It's not over inflated at all. Your paying just over $330 for each person. Having said that, if you can watch, I have seen flights for $100 each way with Jetblue recently.

You just need to be watching. Other than what your paying, your going to pay a ton more for a Canadian flight. Be happy with what your saving.

 

[KandyM]

I do think that around four months out is when you will see the best prices.

 

[jules999]

Sorry if this is a dumb question but I've been looking and haven't been able to find it. What is the new special offer?